Definitions for riot act

Here are all the possible meanings and translations of the word riot act.

Princeton's WordNet(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

riot act(noun)

a vigorous reprimand

"I read him the riot act"

Riot Act(noun)

a former English law requiring mobs to disperse after a magistrate reads the law to them

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

Riot Act(ProperNoun)

An English law that stated that if 12 or more people assembled unlawfully in a public place they must disperse when read a proclamation

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Riot Act

The Riot Act was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain that authorised local authorities to declare any group of twelve or more people to be unlawfully assembled, and thus have to disperse or face punitive action. The Act, whose long title was "An Act for preventing tumults and riotous assemblies, and for the more speedy and effectual punishing the rioters", came into force on 1 August 1715. It was repealed for England and Wales by section 10 of, and Part III of Schedule 3 to, the Criminal Law Act 1967.

Sample Sentences & Example Usage

This has been one of the worst years, i ’m in the store every day, and I had several days were customers were coming in to give Kristen Myers and Dallas Buttars the riot act. Kristen Myers and Dallas Buttars also had people asking, ‘ Can you put that special stuff in my sandwich ? ’.